Creative Sound Blaster X5

Hi-res External Dual DAC USB Sound Card with Fully Balanced Xamp Headphone Bi-amplifier for Audiophiles

Overview

Audiophiles and pro-audio lovers: The Sound Blaster X5 is made for you.

Top-notch components. Industry-leading technologies. Exceptionally high-resolution audio.

In a gist, the external USB sound card fires up to 32-bit / 384 kHz PCM playback at 130 dB DNR, and features dual Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs, our custom-designed, fully balanced Xamp headphone bi-amplifier, and customizable DSP EQ functions.

On the connectivity front, it comes with a USB-A Host port with USB audio that works with USB microphones and headsets, and even wireless Bluetooth® transmitters for wire-free audio. This is amongst a plethora of connectivity options such as TOSLINK optical and RCA connectors, so you can connect the Sound Blaster X5 to various platforms, including PC, Mac, PS5, PS4, and even your sound systems, AV receivers, set-top boxes, and Blu-ray players.

If you are an audio enthusiast or have a discerning pair of ears, the Sound Blaster X5 is one of the best desktop audio accessories you’ll ever need in your get-up.

Audio

Sound Blaster X5
in numbers

32-bit / 384 kHz

PCM Playback

130 dB

   DNR

DoP128, DSD256

Audio Formats

2x Cirrus Logic

CS43198 DACs

THD+N @

-115dB (~0.00018%)

ASIO 2.2

Playback & Recording

Boosts overall product performance

To enhance the Sound Blaster X5 for smoother operability, the dual microcontroller unit (MCU) design also serves to minimize inter-dependency between major components, reducing the risk of a single point of failure. This allows for improved efficiency with quicker response time between user interaction and device control, and boosts overall product performance.

Pure audio,
pure enjoyment

It also supports ASIO 2.2 playback and recording over USB and S/PDIF, so you can easily access multiple audio inputs and outputs at ultra-low latency, and enjoy audio in its purest form.

Zero Compromises
in Quality

Featuring not one, but two Cirrus Logic CS43198 DACs on the Sound Blaster X5, be ready for exceptionally high-resolution lossless playback in 32-bit / 384 kHz over PCM with ultra-high dynamic range of up to 130 dB DNR. These DACs are also capable of decoding audio formats in DoP128 and DSD256 to deliver high-fidelity audio streaming and acoustic details you cannot miss.

Audio Distortion?
Non-existant

Plus, with an oversampled multi-bit modulator utilizing mismatch shaping technology for incredibly low Total Harmonic Distortion rating of ~0.00018%, audio distortion is almost non-existent with the Sound Blaster X5.

the perfect headphones sidekick

Sure, you have the most coveted pair of headphones, but are you truly maximizing its potential? The Sound Blaster X5 is engineered to bring out the best in any headphones, including yours.

Silky Smooth Sound

Have a go at silky smooth audio that satisfies even the most demanding desires of pro-audio users! Sound Blaster X5 is equipped with our custom-designed Xamp discrete headphone bi-amplifier technology that drives each earcup individually via 3 stages of amplification circuits.

Great with studio-grade Headphones

This external sound card works with a wide range of headphones, with the capability to drive studio-grade headphones of up to 600Ω, including the most demanding high-end, open-back planar-magnetic headphones, as well as sensitive IEMs, with an ultra-low 1Ω headphone output impedance.

Fully balanced headphones bi-amplifier

How? Our Xamp technology works in tandem with the dual DAC ensemble to amplify the audio signals of the left and right earcups independently. This arrangement eliminates noise caused by in-circuit interference and keeps crosstalk to a minimum. The fully balanced audio can then be delivered through a 4.4 mm gold-plated headphones output connector for an accurate reproduction of the original audio content in its purest and authentic form, ensuring nothing but fidelity to satisfy your inner audiophile’s desires.

Supports virtual surround

It also supports virtual surround on your headphones, deploying HRTF (head-related transfer function) algorithms onto audio streams for immersive, theater-like audio envelopment with realistic spatial audio positioning, to whichever content you choose indulge in.

Connectivity

now wire-free, and more

Go wireless with Sound Blaster X5? Not a problem. The USB DAC sports a Bluetooth receiver so you can stream high-quality audio from your mobile devices, Windows PC, or Mac to Sound Blaster X5 directly.

At the back of the Sound Blaster X5, there is a dedicated USB-A host audio port, for you to connect to a wireless audio transmitter such as the Creative BT-W4 or Creative BT-W3 – so you can play high-definition audio such as aptX Adaptive (BT-W4), aptX HD(BT-W3) wirelessly to your Bluetooth headset+. This USB-A host audio port* also works with external USB speakers, microphones, and headsets for extra flexibility.

+ Bluetooth receiver must support corresponding aptX codec
* USB Host Audio port support maximum 5V 100mA USB Audio Class Device on PC, Mac and Console only

And there’s more! Choose from a plethora of RCA and TOSLINK Optical connectors, a gold-plated 3.5 mm Microphone-in port with an easy-to-access mic gain knob, as well as a convenient USB-C audio port that also powers the Sound Blaster X5 via a single cable for fuss-free audio enjoyment. For versatility, the Sound Blaster X5 also features a ubiquitous gold-plated 3.5 mm headphones port for easy connectivity to your commonplace unbalanced headphones and a gold-plated 4.4mm port for your prized balanced headphones.

Customization

make it truly yours

You are in full control to take your audio further. Make adjustment to the 10-band EQ frequency graph, select from a list of Acoustic Engine’s pre-tuned audio profiles, or switch them off completely for clean, pure, unadulterated sound. Our Creative app offers you full customizability over what you wish to hear, or not.

Specifications

Headphone Output Power (Unbalanced)

0.98 Vrms (60 mW) @ 16Ω, 1.47 Vrms (65 mW) @ 33Ω, 4.11 Vrms (112 mW) @ 150Ω, 4.14 Vrms (52 mW) @ 330Ω, 4.15 Vrms (29 mW) @ 600Ω

Headphone Output Power (Balanced)

1.18 Vrms (86 mW) @ 16Ω, 1.90 Vrms (109 mW) @ 33Ω, 5.86 Vrms (313 mW) @ 150Ω, 8.25 Vrms (206 mW) @ 330Ω, 8.28 Vrms (114 mW) @ 600Ω

Remote Control (BLE)

Android devices, iOS devices

Weight

879g (1.93 lb)

Dimensions

216 x 170 x 72 mm (8.5 x 6.69 x 2.83 inches)

Dynamic Range (DNR)

130 dB

Audio Technology

Sound Blaster Acoustic Engine

Max. Playback Quality

Line Out/Headphone Out: Stereo, Up to PCM 32-bit / 384.0 kHz, DoP 128, DSD 256
Optical Out: Stereo, Up to PCM 24-bit / 192.0 kHz

Recording Resolution

Mic-in: PCM 24-bit / 192.0 kHz
Optical In: PCM 24-bit / 96.0 kHz
Line-in: PCM 24-bit / 192.0 kHz

Connectivity Options (Main)

1 x TOSLINK Optical In, 1 x TOSLINK Optical Out, 1 x RCA Line-in, 1 x RCA Line-out, 1 x 3.5 mm Headphones-out (Unbalanced), 1 x 4.4 mm Headphones-out (Balanced), 1 x 3.5 mm Mic-in, 1 x USB-C port of PC/Mac/PS4/PS5, 1 x USB-A Host Audio-out port

Headphone Amp

16–600Ω

Max Channel Output

Stereo

Supported Operating Systems

Mac OS X v10.5 and above, Windows® 10 Ver 1703, Windows® 11

DAC

2 x Cirrus Logic CS43198 high-resolution DAC, PCM 32-bit / 384 kHz playback, DoP 64, 128 support, DSD 64, 128, 256 support, THD: -115 dB, DNR: 130 dB

ADC

DNR: 114 dB, THD+N: -105 dB

Power

USB-C

Recommended Usage

Movies and Music

System Requirements

Windows

  • Intel® Core™i3 or AMD® equivalent processor
  • Microsoft® Windows 11, 10 32 / 64-bit Ver 1703 or later
  • > 4 GB RAM
  • > 4 GB of free hard disk space
  • Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port

Macintosh

  • Apple Silicon M-series Processor
  • Macintosh running macOS 10.15 or later
  • > 4 GB RAM
  • > 4 GB of free hard disk space
  • Available USB 2.0 / 3.0 port

PS4

  • Firmware Ver 5.0 or later
  • Available USB port

PS5

  • Firmware Ver 20.02-2.26.00.00-00.00.00.0.1 or later
  • Available USB port

Software Remote Control

  • Android OS Ver 8.0 or later
  • iOS Ver 12.0 or later
  • Built-in Bluetooth Low Energy support

Package Contents

  • 1 x Sound Blaster X5
  • 1 x USB-C to USB-A Cable (1.5m / 4.9 ft)
  • 1 x Optical Cable (1.5m / 4.9 ft)
  • 1 x 3.5 mm to RCA Stereo Cable (2m / 6.6 ft)
  • 1 x Quick Start Guide
  • 1 x Warranty and Compliance Leaflet

Warranty

1-year Limited Hardware Warranty